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87
Democrats also used economic
pressures against their targets. The city’s
leading businessmen contended that “ the
substitution of white for negro labor” would
solve many of the city’s problems. These
men needed the political contest to be over
so they could return to business. The
unsettled situation was seen as “ detrimental
to every business interest” because of the
impact upon business and capital
recruitment for the city. 51 At the beginning
of October, the chamber of commerce met
and passed resolutions requiring members to
jobs available, men had to resort to crime in order to
feed themselves and their families. Former chief of
police Melton answered a series of questions in 1899
regarding the arson problems faced by the city and
replied that the arson cases were well before the
beginning of the white supremacy election campaign
and that the “ firebugs” had been arrested. Melton
observed that during the spring and summer months
when residents were out of the city at vacation homes
on the beach, crime at those residences increased
annually and was usually instances of young boys
breaking and entering to steal minor items. James
Worth wrote his wife before the election that a black
man had approached his house and asked his mother
for something to eat since he had eaten nothing for
two days. Another letter writer, Mrs. Edward
Wootten, informed her son that blacks had been
“ robbing pantries.” James Worth to Josephine,
November 3, 1898, James S. Worth Papers, Southern
Historical Collection; Mother to Edward Wootten,
November 8, 1898, Wootten Papers, University of
North Carolina at Wilmington; Contested Election
Case, 369- 70.
51 It is clear that after the city returned to Democratic
control business leaders were successful in a variety
of business ventures. The Delgado Mill began
construction in 1899, the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad located its headquarters in the city and other
businesses grew as well. The turn of the century was
a period of prosperity for businessmen throughout the
country, Wilmington’s business leaders were not able
to capitalize on the wealth being accumulated by
railroad and industry magnates until after 1898.
Review of industrial schedules from the 1890 and
1900 census plus business directories and port
records demonstrates the growth seen in the city
following 1898 as businessmen focused on business
and not politics. Wilmington Messenger, November
2, 1898.
“ exert . . . utmost influence and personal
effort to effect results which will restore
order” and protect property and lives. As a
result, the Merchant’s Association met on
October 7 and developed a plan for the
establishment of a “ permanent labor bureau
for the purpose of procuring white labor for
employers.” The group agreed to meet on a
weekly basis and promised that their mission
to hire more white men would not falter
after the election. 52 For their part, the city’s
white laborers pressured leaders to
acknowledge their economic plight and
organized a White Laborer’s Union to
ensure their needs would be addressed once
the Democrats regained power. At the end
of October about 35 laborers organized the
union. They elected Red Shirt Mike
Dowling chair, and stated that their purpose
was to “ organize a white laborer’s union
with a view to replacing negro labor with
white labor and with this object in view to
co- operate with the Wilmington Labor
Bureau recently organized as a result of the
meeting of the business men and tax payers
of Wilmington.” 53
Vigilance Committees and Paramilitary
Organization
Another component of the
Wilmington campaign, and apparently
unique to the city, was the development of a
“ Vigilance Committee,” which was under an
additional umbrella of the militia- like
organization led by Roger Moore and
attributed to the Secret Nine. Also called the
“ Citizen’s Patrol,” the Vigilance Committee
attempted to pull the Red Shirts and White
Government Unions under their control.
52 Evening Dispatch ( Wilmington), October 8, 1898.
53C. C. Redd, George W. Cameron, D. A. Rowan, C.
W. Millis and M. G. Silva were appointed by those
present to draw up a constitution and by- laws before
the next meeting. Wilmington Messenger, October
28, 1898.

87
Democrats also used economic
pressures against their targets. The city’s
leading businessmen contended that “ the
substitution of white for negro labor” would
solve many of the city’s problems. These
men needed the political contest to be over
so they could return to business. The
unsettled situation was seen as “ detrimental
to every business interest” because of the
impact upon business and capital
recruitment for the city. 51 At the beginning
of October, the chamber of commerce met
and passed resolutions requiring members to
jobs available, men had to resort to crime in order to
feed themselves and their families. Former chief of
police Melton answered a series of questions in 1899
regarding the arson problems faced by the city and
replied that the arson cases were well before the
beginning of the white supremacy election campaign
and that the “ firebugs” had been arrested. Melton
observed that during the spring and summer months
when residents were out of the city at vacation homes
on the beach, crime at those residences increased
annually and was usually instances of young boys
breaking and entering to steal minor items. James
Worth wrote his wife before the election that a black
man had approached his house and asked his mother
for something to eat since he had eaten nothing for
two days. Another letter writer, Mrs. Edward
Wootten, informed her son that blacks had been
“ robbing pantries.” James Worth to Josephine,
November 3, 1898, James S. Worth Papers, Southern
Historical Collection; Mother to Edward Wootten,
November 8, 1898, Wootten Papers, University of
North Carolina at Wilmington; Contested Election
Case, 369- 70.
51 It is clear that after the city returned to Democratic
control business leaders were successful in a variety
of business ventures. The Delgado Mill began
construction in 1899, the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad located its headquarters in the city and other
businesses grew as well. The turn of the century was
a period of prosperity for businessmen throughout the
country, Wilmington’s business leaders were not able
to capitalize on the wealth being accumulated by
railroad and industry magnates until after 1898.
Review of industrial schedules from the 1890 and
1900 census plus business directories and port
records demonstrates the growth seen in the city
following 1898 as businessmen focused on business
and not politics. Wilmington Messenger, November
2, 1898.
“ exert . . . utmost influence and personal
effort to effect results which will restore
order” and protect property and lives. As a
result, the Merchant’s Association met on
October 7 and developed a plan for the
establishment of a “ permanent labor bureau
for the purpose of procuring white labor for
employers.” The group agreed to meet on a
weekly basis and promised that their mission
to hire more white men would not falter
after the election. 52 For their part, the city’s
white laborers pressured leaders to
acknowledge their economic plight and
organized a White Laborer’s Union to
ensure their needs would be addressed once
the Democrats regained power. At the end
of October about 35 laborers organized the
union. They elected Red Shirt Mike
Dowling chair, and stated that their purpose
was to “ organize a white laborer’s union
with a view to replacing negro labor with
white labor and with this object in view to
co- operate with the Wilmington Labor
Bureau recently organized as a result of the
meeting of the business men and tax payers
of Wilmington.” 53
Vigilance Committees and Paramilitary
Organization
Another component of the
Wilmington campaign, and apparently
unique to the city, was the development of a
“ Vigilance Committee,” which was under an
additional umbrella of the militia- like
organization led by Roger Moore and
attributed to the Secret Nine. Also called the
“ Citizen’s Patrol,” the Vigilance Committee
attempted to pull the Red Shirts and White
Government Unions under their control.
52 Evening Dispatch ( Wilmington), October 8, 1898.
53C. C. Redd, George W. Cameron, D. A. Rowan, C.
W. Millis and M. G. Silva were appointed by those
present to draw up a constitution and by- laws before
the next meeting. Wilmington Messenger, October
28, 1898.